Power rake



(2. s. REITAN POWER RAKE June 12, 1951 Original Filed Oct. 25, 194';

2 Sheets-Sheet l 'c. s. REITAN June 12, 1951 POWER RAKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Oct. 25, 1947 f vl/ewar' 04,004 5 @A-m Reissued June 12, 1951 POWER RAKE Claude S. Reitan, Fergus Falls, Minn.

Original No. 2,505,576, dated April 25, 1950, Serial No. 782,128, October 25, 1947. Application for reissue May 18, 1950, Serial No. 162,794

Matter enclosed in heavy brackets appears in the original patent but forms no part of this reissue specification; matter printed in italics indicates the additions made by reissue.

8 Claims.

parts.

Another object of my invention is the provi sion of a power-driven raker for leaves'and the like, which is inexpensive to build, rugged in construction, and which requires but a minimum of adjustment and care.

The above and numerous other objects of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed specification, appended claims, and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like char-' acters indicate like parts throughout the several views:

Fig. l is a perspective view of my novel device;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken substantially on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view partly in section and partly in front elevation, taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2, some parts being broken away;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a detail of one of the pick-up fingers of my device; and

Fig. 6 is a view corresponding substantially to a portion of Fig. 2 on an enlarged scale, but illus trating a modified form of my invention.

Referring with greater particularity to the drawings,-the numeral I indicates, in its entirety, a skeleton-like frame comprising a rectangular top member 2, side members 3, and rear frame members 4.

A rotary member is indicated, in its entirety, by the numeral 5 and comprises a shaft 6 (journalled in suitable bearings 1 in the side frame members 3), a plurality of circumferentially-spaced radially-projecting fan blades 8, and a plurality of circumferentially-spaced axially-extended pickup members 9. It will be noted that the fan blades 8 are secured to the shaft 6 by means of radially-projecting arms Ill and that the pick-up elements 9 are secured to the shaft 6 by means of radial arms I I, adjacent one end, and at their opposite ends are welded or otherwise secured to a pulley I2, as indicated at I3. The pulley I2 is fast on the shaft 6 for common rotation therewith. The whole rotary member 5, including the pulley I2, is contained within a segmental hood I4 having end plates I 5 through which the shaft 6 extends into the bearings I. The hood I I, at its bottom portion, is provided with an elongated opening I 4a, immediately overlyingthe ground surface, and through which the elements 8 and 9 are adapted to operate.

Pick-up elements 9, preferably and as shown, are made up of any axially-extended member such as the rods 9a radially outwardly spaced from the shaft 6, and pick-up fingers I6 which are formed at their inner ends with ring-like loops or eyes H, which are loosely engaged by similar loops I8 secured fast in axially spaced relation on the rods 9a.

The frame I and the hood I4 carried thereby are maintained in spaced relation to the ground by means of wheels I9 journalled on shafts 20, which shafts 20 are rigidly secured to the intermediate portion of the frame I, and also by means of smaller wheels 2| suitably secured to the rear end of the frame. A motor 22 is rigidly secured to a mounting plate 23 by means of bolts or the like 24. Mounting plate 23, is, in turn, rigidly secured to the rectangular top frame member 2 by means of bolts or the like 25. Motor 22 is provided with a pulley 26 over which runs a V-belt or the like 21. Likewise, belt 21 runs over the pulley I2. As indicated in Fig. 2,.pulley I2 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction. It will be noted that, when the pick-up fingers IB are in a radially-extended position, they extend radially outwardly beyond the outer edges of the fan blades 8. Fan blades 8, preferably and as shown, are provided with forwardly-extending scoopacting arcuate tips 8a at their radially outer ends.

Immediately behind the elongated opening Na in the direction of rotation of the rotary member 5, is a delivery spout 28 formed by a rearwardly and upwardly-extending lip 29, preferably and as shown formed integrally with the seg- -with an angle bracket 35, which is adapted to be placedv over and supported on a transverse bar 36 which forms a portion of the rear frame structure 4. A pair of handle bars 31 extend upwardly and rearwardly from the rear frame structure 4, are provided at their extreme rear ends,

with hand grips 38, and are joined at their intermediate portions by a cross bar 39'. It will, be seen by reference to Figs. 1 and 2, that the basket 3| is supported at its rear end from the crossbar 39 by a hook 46. The upper" U-shaped frame member 33, at its forward end portions, extends downwardly to engage, preferably movably, the

forward end portions of the base member 32, as

indicated at 4|".

From the above, it will be'obvious that, as the rotary member 5 is rotated counterclockwise with respect to Fig. 2, the pick-up fingers IE will be swung to a radially outwardly-extended position under the action of centrifugal force. The length of the pick-up fingers is such that, under such action, they will extend radially outwardly to an extent where they substantially skim the surface of the'ground. It follows that, as the fingers contact leaves or other debris, such as twigs, and small stones, indicated. by the letter Ea] A, they will pick such material up. and sweep the same through the spout 28 into the basket 3|. This sweeping action is further aided by the blast ofv gers It, the action of each one is totally independent with respect to the others thereof. Therefore, while some thereof may be prevented from being extended radially outwardly to their limit by the action of large stones or other not readily movable objects, the others will still remain effective in picking up leaves adjacent the object. This feature is further important in that it prevents injury to any of the movable elements, due to impact of the fingers with any extremely hard object.

In Fig. 6, I have shown a slightly modified form of my invention wherein the pick-up fingers |6[a] are secured in axially-spaced relation to each other, along the radially outer edge of the fan blade elements [16 and] 8['].

My invention has been thoroughly tested and found to be entirely adequate for the accomplishment of the objects above set forth; and while I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that the same is capable of further modification without departure from the scope and spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A power operable leaf raking device comprising a Wheel supported frame, a leaf raking and propelling structure mounted. in the, frame for rotation about a horizontal axis, said struc ture including an elongated member parallel with [and laterally spaced from} said axis, relatively rigid pick-up fingers loosely pivoted to said member at spaced points longitudinally thereof for universal swinging movements relative thereto and for radial movements relative to said axis, and power means supported by said frame and 4 having an operative driving connection with said structure.

2. The structure according to claim 1, wherein said member comprises a fan blade operatively connected to said structure and having its center of rotation in said axis, and said blade in cross section thereof being disposed generally radially of said axis and being slightly curved in the direction of rotation of said structure.

3. A power operable leafraking. device comprising a wheel supported; frame, a leaf' raking and propelling structure mounted in the frame for rotation about a horizontal axis, said structureincluding a pair of elongated members parallel with and in laterally spaced relation to said axis on opposite sides and in a plane thereof, pick-up fingers loosely pivoted to each of said members at, spaced points longitudinally thereof for universal swinging movements relative thereto and for radial movements relative to said axis, said structure further including elongated fan blades parallel with, said members and, disposed therebetween circumferentially ofsaid axis,

a motor supported by said frame, and a drive connection between the motor and said structure for imparting rotation, thereto.

4. A power operable leaf raking device compris ing a wheel supported frame, a leaf raking and' propelling structure rotatably supported in the frame, said structure including a horizontally disposed shaft having its opposite ends journalled in the frame, a pair of elongated members. parallel withand in laterally spaced relation to said shaft at opposite sides thereof, pick-up fingersloosely pivoted-toeach of said members at spaced points longitudinally thereof for universal swinging movements relative thereto and for radial movements relative to said shaft, a plurality; of elongated fan blades supported by said shaft in parallel relation thereto and to said members, said blades being disposed between said members circumferentially of said shaft, a pulley supported by said shaft, a motor supported on said frame, and having a pulley connected thereto, and a belt operatively engaged with said pulleys.

5. The structure according to claim 4, together with a leaf confining hood surrounding the upper major portion of said structure, a leafcollecting basket supportedby said. frame rearwardly of said structure, and a leaf conducting throat communicating with said hood and said, basket.

6. For use with a power driven leaf raking device including a ground wheel supported frame having a rotatable raking thereon for operations relative to the ground, said raking member comprising an elongatedrotatable structure having portions which are concentric with the axis of rotation and, supported at its ends for rotation about said axis, and, a plurality of relatively rigid leaf pick-up fingers loosely pivoted on said portion for universali eyes projecting radially therefrom, and a series of relatively rigid leaf pick-up fingers each hav;

ing an eye at one end loosely interlinked with a.

corresponding eye of said, series. of eyes on said bar.

8. The structurev according to claim 6 wherein the elongated rotatablev structure includes elon member mounted 5 gated fan blades extending radially of said structure for a lesser extent than that of said fingers.

CLAUDE S. REITAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent or the original patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,173,485 Coldwell Feb. 29, 1916 1,336,257 Muzzy Apr. 6, 1920 1,507,317 Laberge Sept. 2, 1924 Number Number Name Date Landon July 14, 1925 Sternemann Aug. 9, 1932 Burr Dec. 12, 1933 Magee et a1 May 30, 1939 Swertfeger Feb. 8, 1944 Fort Sept. 13, 1949 Wallace Apr. 18, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Germany Oct. 11, 1938 

